My books.

'The future you have tomorrow won't be the same future you had yesterday.'

Rant would tell people: ‘You’re a different human being to everyone you meet.’

Rant used to say, ‘Life’s greatest comfort is being able to look over your shoulder and see people worse off , waiting in line behind you.’

'The big reason why folks leave a small town,' Rant used to say, 'is so they can moon over the idea of going back. And the reason they stay put is so they can moon about getting out.'

History is nothing except monsters or victims. Or witnesses.

Where I'm at is a big Episcopal church in downtown Newark, New Jersey, sitting in the dark while I try to write down everything. But isn't that always the impossible impulse? Don't we always try to rescue the doomed bits and pieces of life, in hope that a mere story can become Noah's Ark and deliver all the living things of the past to a bright and glorious immortality?

Evie screams down at Brandy Alexander, 'Save me a window table in hell!'

'When you understand,' Brandy says, 'that what you're telling me is just a story. It isn't happening anymore. When you realize the story you're telling is just words, when you can just crumble it up and throw your past in the trash can,' Brandy says, 'then we'll figure out who you're going to be.'